Beyond thiols, beyond gold: Novel NHC-stabilized nanoclusters in catalysis

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In FY 2022, we successfully synthesized gold nanoclusters stabilized by N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands in collaboration with the Tsukuda and Hakkinen group. We demonstrated that the use of chiral, BIANP-inspired NHCs to prepare chiral Au10 nanoclusters with a unique elongated central Au10 core. ESI-MS and single-crystal X-ray crystallography confirmed the molecular formula to be [Au10(bisNHC)4Br2]2+. The chiral Au10 nanocluster adopts a linear edge-shared tetrahedral geometry with a prolate shape. The UV-vis spectrum this cluster in CH2Cl2 displayed four prominent absorption bands at 291, 325, and 546 nm, which is a significant departure from the spectra of bis-NHC dinuclear Au(I) complexes. CD spectra demonstrate chirality transfer from the chiral bisNHC ligand to the inner Au10 nanocluster core. The reaction monitoring by ESI-MS and UV-vis spectroscopy indicated the formation of [Au9(bisNHC)4Br]2+ as a key intermediate.In addition, we achieved the synthesis of a toroidal Au10 cluster stabilized by NHC bearing bulky 2,4,6-trimethylbenzyl units. The [Au10(NHC)6Br3]Br cluster readily undergoes conversion to form a biicosahedral Au25 cluster, while the corresponding Cl cluster showed no conversion. This facyt may be explained both by the steric environment imposed by the bulky mesityl-substituted NHC ligand, as well as steric and electronic factors introduced by the smaller chloride ligands.